You may call me Freya.
And with that, the voice was silent. This was crazy! A goddess had spoken to me? I was in the world of How To Train Your Dragon? "What the hell is going on?" I shouted to the heavens. Sure, the movie was great and all, but I didn't want to be this close to the story! How was I supposed to believe all this was real? It was madness!
But yet here I was. On a cold bare island in the middle of the ocean, miles away from Berk and whoever had been brought here with me. I picked up the feather and the bead, and without a better place, decided to put them in my bra. Which didn't seem to be fitting right - and my pajamas weren't, either. They all seemed a bit too big. What's with that? Is something wrong with me? I needed to find a mirror, or something reflective. But where to look?
Ah! A little ways away the rock was smooth and shiny. What had made it that way I had no idea, but I didn't really care as I made my way over to it across the uneven terrain. I shivered in the biting wind. Somehow I would need to find new clothes. And somewhere to sleep before night fell, because I was absolutely sure it would get even colder in the dark. Judging from the sun's current position, I only had an hour or two before it happened. I reached the smooth rock and got down to my knees to check my reflection.
I jumped back in shock. This wasn't me! The girl was years younger, had way shorter hair, and - wait. Slowly, I leaned back towards the rock. That was me.
Me from four and a half years ago! In middle school I had cut my hair to just below my chin. I was maybe an inch or two shorter than I was in the present. There are a few surprises in store, but fear not. I remembered Freya saying. Was this one of them? Why, I had to be the same age as when...When I had seen the movie for the first time. And that would also mean that I was right around Hiccup's age. Oh. I realized. But what would the purpose of this be? I couldn't waste time trying to figure out why I was younger. I needed to get off this island. "And how do I do that? The ocean would give me hypothermia in five minutes." I wondered aloud. "Maybe if I go inland I can figure something out. But I can't let anyone see me."
I scanned the rocks in front of me, trying to find a path of some sort that would let me go towards the island's center. There wasn't one, but in one place the cliff looked like it had enough handholds. It was only about twenty feet up, anyway. I could climb it easily. I walked over and paused, looking up. This beach is so barren. Could there be anything on the other side? I reached up and began pulling myself up the rocks. The wind pushed at me, but not enough to make me in danger of falling. I reached the top ever-so-slightly out of breath. There was something here after all! It was a pine forest, sparse and dull colored. There weren't any houses, either. I need to find warmer clothes. And if not that, then at least some shoes. I decided, rubbing my feet that had become sore on the way up the rough slope. Sitting here won't solve anything. So I stood up and walked on.
The woods were silent but offered some meager protection from the wind. I wandered through them aimlessly. "Where are all the animals? It's so quiet here."
Just as the words left my mouth, there was a creaking sound behind me. I spun, looking for the source. One of the trees was swaying violently for no apparent reason. What in the world? Suddenly I heard a growling noise, coming from the tree. That's no bird! I started to back away from the tree cautiously. It shook again, and there was a loud thump on the ground. Three more of the trees started swaying, and three more thumps were heard. I kept walking backward, trying to get away from whatever was tracking me. I heard the four creatures breathing - they had to be close, but where were they? What were they?
My foot got caught on a tree root, and I fell hard onto my butt. The creatures inched closer, and I shut my eyes. They were going to attack me. I had invaded their territory, and now they were going to get rid of the threat. I felt hot, smelly breath on my face. This is it!
But nothing happened. I heard a curious reptilian coo, and cautiously opened my eyes. "Ah!" I cried, falling flat on my back in surprise.
Dragons! Dragons had been after me!
Slowly, I sat back up and observed the four curious faces. Not hostile - just curious. They had probably never smelled anything like me before. They were all red, with light gold bellies. Their faces were long, with protruding, upwards pointing teeth and a horn on their noses. Triangular things that looked like skin covered horns jutted out right around the back of their jaw. Behind their close together eyes were ribbon like feelers, and along those were leaf like crests that matched the spikes on their back and along their tails. I had seen them somewhere, not in the movie...Changewings! Acid spitters, with the power to turn invisible. I should have expected to run into some dragons sooner or later, this was the world of Berk, after all. I had to stay calm.
"H-hey, there." I said nervously. "Nice Changewings, nice dragons. I'm not going to hurt you."
Now the dragons were confused. They looked at each other, like - Why isn't this puny human screaming in fear or trying to kill us? The one I assumed to be the leader got even closer to me, just inches from my face. It stared at me with it's pale gold eyes. The gaze was intelligent and calculating. I tried to smile, to show it that I was not a threat. After a moment, it looked back to it's companions and opened it's mouth, letting out a growling affirmative. The smallest of the four flew away on it's short triangular wings.
The largest looked back at me, and the feelers on it's head began to move. They reached forward, brushing my arms. "What are you doing? W-wait! Stop that!" The feelers had begun to wrap around me tightly, binding my arms to my chest. I tried to move, but couldn't escape. The three remaining dragons stretched their wings. No no no -
The Changewing holding me took off. We rose above the trees in seconds. "Where are you taking me? What's going on?" I shouted, but the dragon ignored me. I turned my head around so I could see where we were going, and it seemed to be a small depression in the island's very center. The trees were thicker there,and from what I could see it was swarming with dragons. And every single one of them was a Changewing.
We touched down, and the dragon holding me let me go, and I turned to face the rest of the gathered dragons. But before I could move any farther, the first Changewing decided to readjust it's grip so it had hold of both my wrists. I wouldn't be going anywhere.
One by one, all the dragons turned to look at me. Perhaps fifty pairs of eyes were on me, all with very large teeth and lethal acid within their bodies. If I stay still, they won't hurt me. I can't let myself look like any kind of threat, or I'm done for. I was shaking.
A single Changewing approached me. It was much larger than the rest,and it moved slowly, with much dignity. There were several scars on his body, and he had more gold than the rest. Something about the way he moved convinced me that he was male. I guessed that he was older, kind of like a leader to the pride. 'Pride' seemed to be the best way to describe the Changewing group. He roared at the one holding me, and that one answered back. They seemed to be having a conversation.
The old one looked almost angry. He kept scoring the rock with its claws in agitation, and the movement got faster and faster as the one holding me answered each of his roars. He doesn't want me here. He thinks I'm a threat like the Vikings. I realized. Then why did this one take me here? Somewhere in the back of my mind I was aware that I'd need to stop thinking of them of his one and that one if I was here much longer.
My Changewing suddenly roared much louder than before. It needed the elder to listen. Suddenly the feelers let go of me, and I turned around to face my Changewing. "Why'd you do that?" I asked quietly. It nosed me, right where I had hidden the feather and bead. "You want me to show you, is that it? Do these smell funny or something?" I retrieved the treasures and held one in each hand. Seeing them, my Changewing roared an affirmative to the elder, like, "See that? I told you there was something!" My Changewing then ignored the feather, but gazed intensely at the amber bead. Ever so gently, it touched the bead with the tip of its snout.
The bead glowed like a tiny sun. My eyes nearly popped out of my head - yet another magical event! Wasn't being thrown into another world enough? After a moment the glow died. My Changewing gazed at me with satisfaction, almost affection. What was that supposed to mean? I wondered as I put the treasures away.
In one week, the events which you have watched for so long will begin to unfold. Before then, the three of you must meet your companions, I suddenly remembered. Had Freya meant that my 'companion' would be a dragon?
The elder was still not pleased, but it seemed like he wasn't going to attack now. He growled long and low, then jerked his head back the way we had come. Get out of here before I change my mind. I imagined him saying. My Changewing made a noise that was more of a hurt coo than a growl. The elder roared loudly, and my Changewing cooed again. It looked into my eyes sadly. It made a jerking motion with its head. "What's wrong? You want me to get on?"
My Changewing made the motion again, and I moved to its side. It crouched, and I awkwardly threw a led over it, like getting on a horse. Which I hadn't done for years. My Changewing rose, and once again cooed at the elder. He only glared and turned away. My dragon looked at the others gathered around us. I think some of them looked sad, but most of them turned away like the elder. Whatever choice he made was final. Did he banish this dragon? I thought sadly, stroking the warm, smooth scales beneath me, Was it my fault? But then why stick up for me?
My dragon wailed in anguish. I thought I might have seen tiny sparks flying from it's mouth, but Changewings only breathed acid. I ignored the lights and grabbed hold of it's neck as it began to spread it's wings. It shot into the sky, and I held on for dear life.
The Changewing took me to the very edge of the island and landed on the beach, right around where I had woken up. The only difference was that this part of the shore was a bit more sheltered. I thought that it might just leave me there, but when I got off the dragon sat down on the stones and wailed, throwing its front paws over its eyes. I sighed, the poor beast was so distraught.
I sat down right by its face and stroked its head. "Hey. Thank you for that. I don't know why you stood up for me, but it looks like you got into a lot of trouble for it. I'm sorry."
The dragon sighed hugely and refused to look at me. It might not have understood me, but I kept talking, trying to make it feel better. "Not a lot of humans would do that for a stranger, and you aren't even human. People like me kill your kind, right? Well, I never would. I know it was probably a huge risk bringing me back to your family like that."
The dragon removed it's paws and looked me in the eye. That huge gaze still made me nervous, but I smiled anyway. "Don't worry. You're not alone. If they rejected you just for siding with a human, then to hell with them. I'll be your new family. And I will not abandon you." I could have sworn the dragon laughed at that. It wasn't mocking, though. The dragon blinked at me, and then licked my face happily.
"Ah! Oh, that's gross!" But I was laughing too. I scratched the dragon's head and we both stared peacefully out at the sea for a while. "Wait!" I realized something. "I don't even know what to call you."
The dragon cocked it's head to the side curiously. "Well, the first thing would be to find out if you're female or male." I bit my lip, thinking. How was I supposed to decide a dragon's gender? "Are you like the old dragon from the woods? Or like me?" I wondered, not really expecting an answer. But the dragon snorted when I said 'old dragon' like it knew exactly what I meant. "Me?" I asked again, "You're a she?"
The dragon nodded. She nodded. "Woah! You really understand me? That's incredible!" She laughed again. "Now what to call you?"
She was brave, standing up to her own kind for me. And kind to stick with me even if it meant her exile. Not Braveheart. This is How to Train Your Dragon, not a Mel Gibson movie. I stroked her again, taking in her formidable appearance. What a wild thing. That's it!
"Wildheart?" I called tentatively, "Is that all right with you?"
The Changewing crooned in pleasure. "Wildheart, then. And as for me...my name is Scarlet."